[no bill text published] Higher Penalties for Damaging or Defacing Protected Places
Summary Offences Amendment (War Memorials and Other Protected Places) Bill 2024
Opposition BillLegislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Introduced by: Robyn Preston MP (LIB)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Janelle Saffin ALP
“I continue my contribution to debate on the Summary Offences Amendment (War Memorials and Other Protected Places) Bill 2024. I talked earlier about the proposal to reverse the regulation‑making power and what it meant. I noted that incidents relating to the Pool of Reflection had been dealt with under the existing law, and I noted the uncertainty around the word "vicinity".”
Michael Kemp NAT
“I have listened to the debate on the Summary Offences Amendment (War Memorials and Other Protected Places) Bill 2024, and we are debating semantics. It is time to stand up, to value our standards and to respect our culture. At the outset, I say to the Minister that we do not need to look at what other jurisdictions do. We are capable of leading reform and standing up for our values.”
Greg Warren ALP
“I am delighted to contribute to debate on the Summary Offences Amendment (War Memorials and Other Protected Places) Bill 2024, which is a private member’s bill. I acknowledge the member for Hawkesbury for bringing it to the Legislative Assembly. I do not think any member in either House of this Parliament is anything less than sickened and disgusted when our memorials are defaced or damaged.”
Mark Hodges LIB
“I contribute to debate on this important piece of legislation, the Summary Offences Amendment (War Memorials and Other Protected Places) Bill 2024. I thank the shadow Minister for Veterans for bringing it to the House. I have considered this bill in regard to a number of factors. First of all, in my electorate of Castle Hill, we have a large number of veterans.”
Marjorie O'Neill ALP
“I start by acknowledging the contribution of the member for Oxley to this place and his sincere contribution to debate on the Summary Offences Amendment (War Memorials and Other Protected Places) Bill 2024. While I myself have never served, I have deep and abiding principles regarding our veterans and the importance of memorialisation of our wars.”
Adam Crouch LIB
“I support the Summary Offences Amendment (War Memorials and Other Protected Places) Bill 2024 brought before this place by the member for Hawkesbury and shadow Minister for Veterans. I also acknowledge the speech the member for Oxley gave earlier. He speaks from real‑world experience.”
Lynda Voltz ALP
“The Anzac Memorial has a long history in New South Wales, and the Pool of Reflection has always been a part of that memorial. The original memorial to the soldiers was actually Anzac Parade. The soldiers marched down Anzac Parade off to the Gallipoli campaign. They were camped at Moore Park.”
News articles and press releases
Summary Offences Amendment (War Memorials and Other Protected Places) Bill 2024
Ms ROBYN PRESTON, Member for Hawkesbury — 2024-08-15
The bill, which makes amendments to the Summary Offences Act, makes clear that all war memorials are included as "protected places" under section 8 of the Act for the offence of damaging or desecrating protected places. The bill will also increase the penalty for the offence of damaging or desecrating a protected place.